“I’ve had a lot of firsts on this experience to Paris 2026. My first time on a plane, my first time leaving home, or playing football on an international level,” shared Sagar. “And now, winning our first silver in our division!”
Football has always been about growth for Sagar. “I started playing when I was six years old in my hometown, Hoshiyarpur, Punjab. At the beginning, I did not know much about the sport,” Sagar says. “I was not so sure about myself, but with every practice and every game, I truly started enjoying it more.”
Sagar essentially discovered a sporting environment where players were recognised for their abilities and supported to achieve their goals. In 2022, he officially joined Special Olympics Bharat (India), beginning a journey that would eventually lead him to Paris.
“My school was a partner of Special Olympics Bharat (India), which gave me the chance to improve my skills, both on and off the pitch. By joining and committing, I found good coaches, amazing teammates and many friends who supported me and made me feel like I could even do things like the Unified Football World Cup.”
Defending the Dream
On the pitch, Sagar's role is clear. As a defender, he sees himself as the player responsible for protecting not only the goal but also his teammates.
"I like defending because I think of the goal as our home. My job is to protect it and stop anyone from getting through," he adds. "That is what I enjoy most about playing."
The defender's progress was built through months of preparation before the team arrived in France. Players from different areas of India came together through a selection process that eventually created a team united by one goal.
"We went through several stages of selection before making the team," Sagar explains. "There was an initial selection trial, followed by three rounds of training. The final preparations included 20-day camps where we trained on the field every morning, and in the afternoons we had classroom sessions," he says. "We learned things like etiquette, international travel, and how to represent our country."
Those camps created friendships that became just as important as the game.
"During the training camps, I made many good friends from other areas, both with and without intellectual disabilities, including my Unified Partner, Rohit. The experience of friendship in that way has really changed me as a person," Sagar says. "I have gained a lot of confidence and found joy in a new way," he adds.
Paris Memories Beyond Football
The Unified Football World Cup was filled with many new experiences for Sagar, including flying on an aeroplane for the first time.
"I had never travelled outside Bharat (India), so everything was a special experience to me," he says. "I was very scared when the plane took off, but once we were in the air and reached cruising altitude, I started enjoying the experience with my teammates and the view outside."
"The airline even gave us a special welcome," Sagar says. "They made an announcement about our team and even cut a cake for us. That made me feel very proud."
Throughout the tournament, Sagar embraced every opportunity away from the pitch.
"We all stay together, and we wake up at 5 a.m. for matches. After each game, we discuss our performance and prepare for the next one," he says. "We also visited the Indian Embassy and explored parts of Paris. It was all so much fun because we could enjoy many moments with footballers from different countries and make more memories."
When asked about his favourite memory and what he is most looking forward to, Sagar smiles.
"At the Closing Ceremony at Charléty Stadium, everyone was together celebrating. We were all cheering for one another, and I really loved that feeling,” Sagar says. “However, I am sad to leave Paris and this adventure, but I am really excited to try flying again," he laughs.
The Special Olympics Unified Football World Cup Paris 2026 demonstrated the transformative power of Unified sports—creating opportunities for athletes and Unified Partners to compete side by side, building lasting friendships and cultural connections, and, most importantly, challenging perceptions of ability.
Paris 2026 wrapped up on 11 July with a vibrant Closing Ceremony at Charléty Stadium. With the announcement that the next Unified Football World Cup will be held in Paraguay in 2028, Sagar and his teammates left with all smiles, hopeful for another opportunity to compete on the world stage. Relive the action on the Special Olympics YouTube channel and follow along on social media for more action-packed moments.
